Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/07/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I would agree. Since I've not kept up with the Epson story I wonder what its status is right now. Has it yet been placed on the market and if so what is the price? From this group I gather that no one has got one in their hands, yet. There is no doubt that this is one 40 year Leica M user who would gladly buy the Epson body and continue the use of my M lenses. Michael On Jul 12, 2004, at 9:43 AM, <n.wajsman@chello.nl> wrote: > This is a very interesting discussion. Of course, none of us is privvy > to the discussions in Leica's marketing department, but hey, it is fun > to give our ? 0.02... > > I think that Leica is in a difficult position. Lucien's point is > valid; but then the question is, if my existing M lenses are not > usable with the new digital M, then why should I stay with Leica in > the first place? I agree with BD that Epson/Cosina probably did not > invest all that R&D money just to manufacture 10,000 units, so for > someone like me the RD-1 would be a better option for a digital > rangefinder than a new presumably very expensive Leica Digital M which > would also require me to buy a whole new set of (also presumably > expensive) M-digital lenses. > > After all, even Nikon and Canon have made their digital SLRs so that > the old lenses can still be used, albeit with some limitations. I > think what Leica might do is something similar: make the digital M > compatible with the analog lenses but then also bring out a line of > digital-only lenses which would offer added functionality. Precedent > exists even within the Leica family: I can mount old 1-cam and 2-cam > lenses on my R8/R9 but to take full advantage of some features, I need > to use the newest ROM lenses. > > As for general speculation about Leica's corporate future, I have no > doubt that it will end up as a subsidiary of one of the big > companies--OR they will leave camera manufacturing altogether and > become a specialized maker of high-end lenses, which is after all > where their expertise is. > > Nathan >> >> van: Lucien <director@ubi.edu> >> datum: 2004/07/12 ma PM 06:21:45 CEST >> aan: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> >> onderwerp: [Leica] New Leica digital rangefinder system ? , was: new >> M lens? >> >> >> B. D. Colen wrote : >> >>> IF Leica is going to survive longish term, I believe that what they >>> need >>> to do is come out with a digital M body of some sort priced within >>> about >>> $500 of whatever Epson produces. If they do that, they may be able to >>> capitalize on the value of the Leica name, and the huge pool of used >>> M, >>> LTM, and Cosina lenses out there >> >> B.D., >> >> I don't agree. >> >> IF Leica want to survive, I believe they should come out with a >> totally >> new digital rangefinder system. >> >> New camera and new lenses, both designed for any CCD or CMOS size >> that >> will offer the best quality/size ratio. >> >> New lenses designed specifically for digital, with all the contacts >> needed for the camera to know all the information possible from the >> lens (aperture, focal length, etc...) and a new bayonet mount big >> enough proportionally. >> >> At one point in the future, sooner than later, they will have to do >> it. >> >> Better to do it ASAP. >> >> I have a lot of Leica M lenses, and I love them on an M camera for >> film. >> >> But for digital I want the best Leica can offer in lens design FOR >> DIGITAL, not for film, and a system open to the future and all the >> possibilities softwares will offer soon, but only for pictures with >> full exif ! >> >> The equivalent of a 35/1,4 for their future Digital M will be a >> 25/1,4. >> If they want it to cover also the 35mm format for film camera, it will >> be much to big. >> >> On the other hand, if they want it to cover only their 1,37x sensor, >> better to redesign everything from the beginning... >> >> People will pay for that, and they will switch to it if they see a >> value for the final quality of their pictures. >> >> I don't believe in the "lot of lenses on the market" theory. >> >> To survive, Leica need to sell new digital cameras AND new lenses, and >> not only one camera and one ultra-wide-angle lens to current >> customers. >> >> New customers knows about what a modern digital camera can offer, and >> they will not buy a system lacking a lot of possibilities because of a >> lens mount designed in the fifties and based itself on a screw mount >> standardized in the thirties.... >> >> A new Ernst Leitz II should declare: we will do it from scratch and >> make it a success. >> >> ;-) >> >> If Leica want to design THE rangefinder of this new century, there is >> no other option IMO. >> >> Now, I don't think they will do all this. But they may design later a >> new line of digital lenses for the Digital M, covering the 1,37x >> format >> only. That will give them more room for ROM contacts inside the >> current >> bayonet and make smaller lenses possible. Something like the Nikon DX >> lenses. >> >> At the end, the result may be similar, but it may happen to late... >> >> There are rumors of Leica joining the Four Thirds open standard for >> digital cameras, and other rumors of Leica designing lenses for new >> digital bodies. >> >> I don't believe so much in that, but only time will tell... >> >> Lucien >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > Against stupidity the Gods themselves struggle in vain. /Schiller/